It was a breakthrough national championship, highlighted by the Fun’ N’ Gun offense, a Heisman-winning quarterback and a visor-wearing coach with swagger that stretched from Key West to Pensacola.
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at No.18:
No. 18 Johnny Rutledge
Why Rutlegde is No. 18: As a sophomore, the 6-foot-2, 237-pound Rutledge started all 12 games at weakside linebacker for the Gators in 1996 and was a force on defense. Rutledge ranked second on UF in tackles with 108 along with six sacks, four forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries. Rutledge went on to earn second-team All SEC honors in 1997 and first-team All-SEC honors in 1998 before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft. He played five seasons with the Cardinals, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.
Florida football Top 30 player countdown from 1996 championship team
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996 | No. 18 Johnny Rutledge
